Bone anchor delivery system

Abstract

A delivery system for delivering an anchor member to a bone of a patient may include a bone punch including an elongate shaft, a head at a proximal end of the elongate shaft, and a piercing tip at a distal end of the elongate shaft. The piercing tip may be configured to be driven into the bone. An anchor member may be disposed over at least a portion of the piercing tip with the piercing tip extending distal of the anchor member. The anchor member may be configured to penetrate the bone of the patient in cooperation with the piercing tip.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fastener delivery tool, comprising:
 a handle assembly comprising:
 a housing; 
 a lever rotatably coupled to the housing and movable between at least an initial position and a second position; and 
 a sheath extending distally from the housing; 
   an elongate shaft slidably disposed within the sheath;   a piercing tip at a distal end of the elongate shaft;   wherein distal movement of the elongate shaft is configured to move the lever from the initial position to the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The fastener delivery tool of  claim 1 , wherein:
 when in the initial position, the lever is configured to extend at a first angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the sheath; and   when in the second position, the lever is configured to extend at a second angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the sheath, the second angle greater than the first angle.   
     
     
         3 . The fastener delivery tool of  claim 2 , wherein the first angle is in a range of about 0° to about 15°. 
     
     
         4 . The fastener delivery tool of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a linkage disposed within the housing and operably connected to the lever,   wherein actuation of the linkage by rotation of the lever from the second position to the initial position causes proximal translation of the elongate shaft.   
     
     
         5 . The fastener delivery tool of  claim 4 , wherein the linkage comprises:
 an ejector block slidably disposed within the housing;   a distal link pivotably engaged with the housing; and   a middle link pivotably engaged with the ejector block and the distal link.   
     
     
         6 . The fastener delivery tool of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the distal link is pivotably engaged with the housing at a distal pivot point;   the middle link is pivotably engaged with the ejector block at a proximal pivot point; and   the distal link is pivotably engaged with the middle link at an intermediate pivot point between the distal pivot point and the proximal pivot point.   
     
     
         7 . The fastener delivery tool of  claim 5 , wherein the distal link includes a cam surface configured to engage a corresponding surface of the lever. 
     
     
         8 . The fastener delivery tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a spring disposed within the housing and configured to bias the lever toward the initial position. 
     
     
         9 . The fastener delivery tool of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a leg extending laterally from a distal portion thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The fastener delivery tool of  claim 9 , wherein a distal end of the lever is substantially aligned with a free end of the leg when the lever is in the initial position. 
     
     
         11 . The fastener delivery tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a head at a proximal end of the elongate shaft, the head being releasably engaged with the housing. 
     
     
         12 . The fastener delivery tool of  claim 11 , wherein rotation of the lever from the initial position to a disengagement position is configured to move the head proximally from the proximal end of the handle assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The fastener delivery tool of  claim 1 , wherein the piercing tip includes an enlarged region having a diameter greater than a diameter of a proximal end region of the piercing tip extending proximal of the enlarged region. 
     
     
         14 . A fastener delivery tool, comprising:
 a handle assembly including:
 a housing; 
 a lever rotatably coupled to the housing; 
 a linkage disposed within the housing and operably connected to the lever, the linkage including:
 an ejector block slidably disposed within the housing; and 
 at least one link pivotably engaged with the housing; 
 
 a spring configured to bias the lever toward an initial position; and 
 a sheath extending distally from the housing; 
   a bone punch and anchor member delivery member comprising a head and an elongate shaft extending distally from the head, the elongate shaft slidably disposed within the sheath;   wherein rotation of the lever in a direction towards from the housing causes the lever to actuate the linkage to translate the elongate shaft proximally within the sheath.   
     
     
         15 . The fastener delivery tool of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one link comprises:
 a distal link pivotably engaged with the housing at a distal pivot point; and   a middle link pivotably engaged with the ejector block at a proximal pivot point and pivotably engaged with the distal link at an intermediate pivot point.   
     
     
         16 . The fastener delivery tool of  claim 14 , wherein distal translation of the bone punch and anchor member delivery member is configured to rotate the lever away from the housing. 
     
     
         17 . The fastener delivery tool of  claim 14 , wherein the housing includes a leg extending laterally from a distal portion thereof, and wherein a distal end of the lever is substantially aligned with a free end of the leg when the lever is in the initial position. 
     
     
         18 . The fastener delivery tool of  claim 17 , wherein the elongate shaft of the bone punch includes a piercing tip at a distal end thereon, the piercing tip including an enlarged region having a diameter greater than a diameter of a proximal end region of the piercing tip extending proximal of the enlarged region. 
     
     
         19 . A medical device for delivering an anchor member to a bone, comprising:
 a handle assembly including:
 a housing having a leg extending laterally from a distal portion thereof; 
 a lever rotatably coupled to the housing; 
 a linkage disposed within the housing and operably connected to the lever, the linkage including:
 an ejector block slidably disposed within the housing; 
 a distal link pivotably engaged with the housing at a distal pivot point; and 
 a middle link pivotably engaged with the ejector block at a proximal pivot point and pivotably engaged with the distal link at an intermediate pivot point; 
 
 a spring disposed within the housing and configured to bias the lever toward an initial position; and 
 a sheath extending distally from the housing; 
   an elongate shaft slidably disposed within the sheath;   a piercing tip at a distal end of the elongate shaft;   wherein distal translation of the elongate shaft is configured to rotate the lever from the initial position to a second position in a direction away from the housing; and   wherein rotation of the lever from the second position to the initial position is configured to proximally translate the elongate shaft.   
     
     
         20 . The medical device of  claim 19 , wherein rotation of the lever from the initial position to a disengagement position in a direction towards the housing is configured to proximally translate the elongate shaft.